View-finder



n. c. PATTGN.

VIEW FINDER.

APPLlcAlloN FILED Nov. 29. |919.

` Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

'UNITED l STATES ,PATENT orifices.

`RALPH CLIFTON re'r'ioiv, or rnovinnn'cn RHODE isnniii).

VIEW-FINDER.

I Application filed November 29, 1919. Serial No.` 341,434.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH citizen of the-United States, and resident of the city of Providence, in the county of Providence and Sta-te of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in View-Finders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates 4to improvements in view finders for photographic cameras, and has for its object to provide an improved view finder which will assist the user in placing his eye properly with respect to the finder in order that he may direct the camera with accuracy toward the object desired. Y f

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved form of mirror in ,whichithe reflecting surface has a definite outline surrounded by a non-,reflecting surface depressed below the plane ofthe reflecting surface.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists. of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended Claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fio'ure l-is a sectional side elevation showing a foldable form of view finder with my improved sighting device attached thereto.

Fig. 2*is a plan view showing a. detail of the finder lens with a mask for providing a definite outline to the sighting area.

Fig. S-is a face view of the mirror, show'- ing the general arrangement of the definite angular outline in such form as to appear to coincide with the outline of the mask when the mirror is set at its proper angle and is seen through the lens.

`Fig. l-is a central sectional edge view through the mirror plate.

Fig. -is a perspective view of the mirroi plate, showing the background depressed below the polished surface thereof.A

specifieatioii of Letters raient. I "Patented Fb, 17,

C. PA'r'roN, a I

provided cooperating determining means, one located on the vtop lensv and the other upon the mirror, which'when positioned so thatfthey appear to coincide with each other, signify that the camera is incorrect alinement for taking a picture.

The followingis a. .detailed description of Y one` means by which this result may be accomplished. vIn theA drawings I have illus.- tratedv a view finder showing one embodiment of my invention, the linder however is not shown mounted on the camera on which it is designed to operate, but the indermay be attached tothe camera atany convenient point with-the axis of its front lens parallel with that of the'camera lens.

With referenceto the drawings, 10 designatesa suitable 'frame in'which the parts of the finder are mounted to permit these parts to be folded when desired, in the usualway Mounted in theV upper portion tofV .this

frame is thel top lens 12 preferably of the .brilliant type,.. which .has". many. advantagesover the old ground glass plate. Over this lens I have mounted an opaque mask or framel whose middle portion is cutout, :is

at lhforming an opening with an angular boundary through which the view to be photographed may beoloserved within the delinite angular outline.

Instead of usinO a se )ar-ate mask or frame to surround the optically useful central portion of the top lens, the rim of the lens itself may be ground, painted, or otherwise rendered opaque or translucent; or the lens may be provided with one or more designatv ing lines or marks upon its surface, in which case such line oi' mark would take the place of the boundary which would otherwise be furnished by the mask.

Mounted on the angle 'plate 16 below this i top lens 12, is a mirror '17( which is preferably formed of metal having a polished surface 18 whose outline is of such a shape as to appear to register or coincide with that of the opening through the mask on the top lens, when the point of vision kis substantially in alineinent with the optical axis of this lens, and when the mirror is seen through.

the lens. i Y

In constructing this mirror of metal it is Vros found of advantage to form it of sheet metal in which the surface'to be polished is raised by means of swaging dies, or otherwise,

from the background 1 9 thereof, so that thev 'iinishing or polishing action on the mirror,

acts only upon that portion which is WithinV the angular outline, the background 19 Abeing, left dull or further treated to remove lts re-V iecting qualities. Y

I do not Wish to be restricted to the form'- ing. of this mirror of metal as itpmay be made.` of glass or any other suitable ma# -terial; neither do I Wish to be restricted to forming a definite continuous coperating boundary l1ne on the m1rror member, as 1n some cases the face ott-he mirror may be provided with oneor more distinguishing the camera may be positioned very quickly and With great accuracy even by an unskilled operator. Y

The device is extremely simple and inexpensive inconstruction, and is effective in operation. Y y The foregoing description refers solely to the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the appended claims. I claim: u

l. In a view finder, a lens, a mirror and coperating distinguishing means on both said lens and mirror, which means appear to coincide substantially with each other when the mirror is seen through the lens from 'a point substantially on the optical axis of the lens.

2. In a view finder, a lens having a definite outline, a coperating mirror also having a definite outline so arranged as to appear to substantially coincide With that of the lens when the mirror is seen through the lens from a point substantially on the optical Vaxis of said lens.

3. A view finder comprising a lens having a definite outline, a mirror having a delinite outline, arranged so that the outline of the mirror appears :to lcoincide substantially with the outline of the lens when the mirror is seen through the lens from a ypoint substantially on the optical axis of the lens, the background about the mirror being below the reflecting surface thereof.

4f. A view finder comprising a frame, a front lens and a top lens in said frame, a .mask having a definitely outlined angular openingen said top lens, a mirror set at an angle relativeto said top lens and having a polished portion'raised above a dull background, said Vraised portion being in definite outline arranged to appear to register with that of said top lens `When the point of vision is properly located above said top lens.

In testimony whereof I atlixmy signature.

RALPH CLIFTON PAT-TON. 

